The awards range from £500,000 to £5m and are dependent on the organisations raising ‘match funding’ themselves – for example the OAE has been awarded £500,000 with a match funding target of the same amount. The funds aim to encourage arts organisations to raise money from a number of different sources, rather than relying on a small number of income streams.

Other organisations to have received an award include: the Philharmonia Orchestra, Aldeburgh Music, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Opera North and The Sage, Gateshead (North Music Trust).

John Summers, chief executive of the Hallé said: ‘This is amazing news for the Hallé and its audience. It also marks the start of a challenging campaign to raise the £1m matching funding necessary to create the endowment.’

‘Public funding of the arts in this country is at the heart of their success,’ said Dame Liz Forgan, chair of Arts Council England (ACE). ‘It enables organisations to attract private investors, and gives them the confidence to continue to take the bold artistic leaps that keep audiences coming. Catalyst will help support that public investment, increasing the sustainability of our world class arts organisations.’

The total amount awarded in Catalyst Endowment awards by ACE was £30.5m.